Hope against hope

By
Tom Toles

***

The Rent is Too Damn High

The Rent is Too Damn High Party. Change the word "Rent" to "Taxes," and there you have the current GOP in a nutshell, emphasis on nut. IS the rent too high? Sometimes! ARE taxes too high? Sometimes! Are we going to get a sensible conversation about tax policy? The Taxes is Too Damn High! There's your analysis! Earmarks! Cut the earmarks, and the budget will be balanced! Except ones in our district. And get the loafers off the dole, too! Earmarks and loafers! More analysis than that, do not look for. The Taxes is Too Damn High!

Are they "sincere?" What does that question even MEAN? If you listen to people talk with passion about the budget and they don't appear to have any understanding or awareness WHATSOEVER that health-care costs (independent of Obamacare!) are the largest factor in the looming crisis, how does "sincere" even matter? The Gravity is Too Damn Strong Party. I didn't used to weigh THIS MUCH, and gravity is just pulling me down on the scale with too much force! And I'M MAD AS HELL ABOUT IT! Sincerely!

So off we go to the polls Tuesday, index fingers extended, quivering in anger and confusion, about to vote for a big ol' platter of incoherence. The rich will be laughing all the way to the bank. Wait, they are already AT the bank. They are working on your foreclosure. Soon you will be a renter. There is a party waiting for you. --Tom Toles

Other Syndicated Editorial Cartoons:

Does anyone else think as I do...that there is something unseemly about a cartoonist accompanying their cartoons with verbal screeds? It seems to take away from the impact/magic of what would otherwise be their art. Knowing in such detail all of Toles' passionate opinions somehow diminishes my interest in the cartoons, which is (was) the reason I came here.

Bertzel, vote for a third party candidate. Sure some people will say that you threw away your vote, but if more people voted for 3rd party candidates, the American electorate would not be stuck with Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum.

Posted by: bertzel | November 1, 2010 3:14 PM
"As a 'free thinker' and somewhat informed person,I have come to the conclusion that no matter the outcome of this election it is a lose, lose situation...there will be no positive 'change' and the games, arguing, name calling, stagnant 'crap' will continue...that being said, anyone care to convince me to vote because the more I see, the more I hear, the more I speak, the more I think it is all a waste of time. And I know there are plenty of other people who feel the same way..."

Bertzel, vote for a third party candidate. Sure some people will say that you threw away your vote, but if more people voted for 3rd party candidates, the American electorate would not be stuck with Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum.

The GOP could elect a potato chip over any member of the Democratic party tomorrow. You insufferable, small-minded, self-righteous Leftists deserve to be turned out.
It's over.
Posted by: pararanger22

My Reply...
It isn't over until the "Fat Cats" sing, ParaRanger.
The Republicans are offering a parachute that "opens on impact"; again.
The Republicans started a war based on lies that got a whole lot of people killed. They gave Corporations huge tax breaks. They gave the Bankers Billions and deregulation. They supported no pay raises for workers and destroyed the economy.
And you want to vote for them again?
That has to be the ultimate fatal error.
The Democrats are our only hope of not becoming an Oligarchy with a dictator for president.
We will probably deserve what we get due to our ignorance and apathy.
Obama "bombed out" and we will all pay the price; Again.
Dave

The GOP could elect a potato chip over any member of the Democratic party tomorrow. You insufferable, small-minded, self-righteous Leftists deserve to be turned out.
It's over.
Posted by: pararanger22

My Reply...
It isn't over until the "Fat Cats" sing, ParaRanger.
The Republicans are offering a parachute that "opens on impact"; again.
The Republicans started a war based on lies that got a whole lot of people killed. They gave Corporations huge tax breaks. They gave the Bankers Billions and deregulation. They supported no pay raises for workers and destroyed the economy.
And you want to vote for them again?
That has to be the ultimate fatal error.
The Democrats are our only hope of not becoming an Oligarchy with a dictator for president.
We will probably deserve what we get due to our ignorance and apathy.
Obama "bombed out" and we will all pay the price; Again.
Dave

1) The Bush tax cuts enacted in 2001
2) The Iraq war
3) The Bush tax cuts enacted in 2003
4) The escalation of war in Afghanistan (invasion in 2001 but largely ignored until the Iraq war was "won")
5) Bush remained president even after the Democratic party won majorities in congress in 2006 and, as president, (a) submitted his budget to congress and (b) held the power of the veto over any budget passed. A 2/3 majority being required to override a presidential veto, and the Republican party being famous (especially lately) for voting as a block to support Republican presidents, a Bush veto of deficit spending would only ever have been overridden if Republicans voted to override. (Which they wouldn't, of course, because they had a vested interest in the very things that caused the deficits in the first place.)

By the way, screams of "Socialist" or "Communist" or "Marxist" might not seem as silly if the descriptions were accurate. Proper use of the "Fascist" label does come to mind, but nobody seems to remember what that means, either.

As to the culture moving on, pete1013? Moving on is not exactly something "new."

As a 'free thinker' and somewhat informed person,I have come to the conclusion that no matter the outcome of this election it is a lose, lose situation...there will be no positive 'change' and the games, arguing, name calling, stagnant 'crap' will continue...that being said, anyone care to convince me to vote because the more I see, the more I hear, the more I speak, the more I think it is all a waste of time. And I know there are plenty of other people who feel the same way...

I've simplified the process of selecting who I'm going to vote for for the next infinite elections by remembering the Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 years--that's where we accumulated most of the national debt. In fact, it is only under those three presidents since WWII that the national debt relative to GDP has gone up. Even under Jimmy Carter the national debt relative to GDP WENT DOWN. Democrats manage the economy more responsibly than Republicans. Democrats do not engage in endless wars. At the end of the Bush 43 administration, I promised myself that I would never vote for a Republican again--that's actually a very good way to determine who to vote for in any race. Still, I'd vote against Chuck Schumer and a couple other Democrats in NYS if the Republicans had bothered to present any good candidates. They did not do so. The Republicans want to repeal health care reform, they want to repeal the financial regulatory bill, they want to decrease taxes (probably for the wealthy). These are not my values; these are not values at all. So simplify; vote for Democrats and you won't be sorry.

A word about the Tea Party. Their time is over. They claim to be patriots but they are patriotic to a country that doesn't exist and never has, a country that I'm not familiar with. They are a destructive force for the U.S. They have been disruptive and very negative. They will be barely noticeable after this election when their candidates are defeated almost everywhere. The Tea Party will be barely remembered by 2011. The TP e-thugs and trolls will still roam the WaPo and other forums, but they will never be taken seriously.

I don't know if you guys have heard, but the cold war is over. Soviet Communism is gone, and Joe McCarthy and the Red Scare are dead. Screams of "socialist", "commie", "Marxist" etc. do not carry much weight with anybody born after 1970. We don't care, and it makes you sound foolish. Your 1950 Rockwell Riverdale Chocklit Shoppe vision of "Real Americans" is silly, hasn't been reverent in 60 years, if it was every really "true" to begin with. The culture of America has moved on, I know it is scary, as your generation fades out of power. But it happens. This last ditch effort to regain some degree of social control may produce some results, but none of the ones you want. And it will be very short lived, if it comes to fruition at all. Because you can't hold back a culture that is moving on, with or without you.

Well, there you go again. Tom, do you and your family live in your car? Do you make over $250K a year? Must be nice to feel free to write extra checks to the government because "it's fair and they deserve it"! How interesting it will be when the tell you what you can draw or what subjects you can lampoon. Don't think it can happen? Check out some current events in China lately.
Me, I'm back the the farm in my S8.
Later

For all those who propose that the solution to our economic problems lies in cutting spending, here are a few figures to play with:

1. The current debt is reported as 14 trillion dollars.
2. If the annual deficit---now running in the trillion dollars + range---could be totally eliminated, we could use any "surplus" for each year to pay toward the debt. If the annual deficit were zero (balanced budget, but no surplus), nothing would be available to pay toward lowering the debt, it would remain at today‘s level and subject to change in interest rates.
3. If we could have a surplus of 500 billion each year without fail (this would mean a change of 1.5 trillion-----from one trillion dollar deficit to 500 billion surplus), we could pay off the debt in 28 years.
4. If we managed to eke out a surplus of only 100 billion each year (hasn't been done in past several decades except for one questionable year under Clinton) it would take 140 years to eliminate the debt.

If ALL expenditures, other than national defense and interest on the debt were eliminated-----that is, NOTHING spent on any item necessary to run the government “bare bones“----zero, nada, zilch-----the debt could be paid off in 5 years and 8 months. Figures used are from the 2010 budget: Total expenditures 3.55 trillion, total defense spending 663.7 billion, interest on the debt 414 billion. Therefore 3.55 trillion minus (0.6637 trillion + 0.414 trillion) = 2.4723 trillion to apply toward the debt. With national debt of 14 trillion, divide that figure by 2.4723. and get 5.66 which is the number of years approximately 5 years and 8 months) it would take to pay off the debt with NOTHING OTHER THAN DEFENSE AND INTEREST ON THE DEBT PAID. That, of course, includes eliminating all spending such as all costs of government------payments for employees and congress, executive and judicial branches, MediCare, FBI, education, farm subsidies, infrastructure repair, etc., etc.
In short, spending cuts will NEVER eliminate the debt. We have to grit our teeth and accept more taxes, or the alternative of "printing more money" with resultant, and unpredictable, inflation to pay off the debt. Take your choice.

- Why is it that Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax votes for a majority of Dems at the local, state and federal levels? And pass most, if not all, Bond issues which increases local debt?
- Why is it that rural voters (land owners) have a strong leaning not to vote for Dems?
--------
A couple things about this. A lot of the divide comes from differing opinions on social issues, and if you eliminate those with a moderate candidate, it's really not that unusual to have a Democrat elected in what is usually considered a Republican district, or vice versa. What we are faced with all to often lately are candidates which are polar opposites.

The other reason is gerrymandering, of which both parties are guilty. House seats, in particular, should not be as "safe" as they are every two years.
--------
- Why is it that 'first time unemployment' filing numbers are around one-half million every month, and the real number of those unemployed keeps rising (although the official Government numbers don't want to show that)?
--------
I can't answer this because I frankly haven't seen it. I will say the unemployment figures are almost certainly higher than they are reported to be if you count the underemployed and those that "gave up" on finding a job. This, though, is as it always is.
-----
- Why are busy voters subjected to very short TV and Radio ads that are slanted attacts, lies and mostly crap? And we need to make good voting decisions?
------
Because they are busy and this usually works.
-------
- Why is Bush blamed for spending when the Dems took control of the House and Senate after the 2006 elections, and Congress controls spending?
-----
Because Bush was in charge. The president always gets credit and blame. Also, because much of this was caused by his policies that he proposed and fought hard for. Tax cuts, wars, Medicare prescription drugs benefit, etc.
-------
Just saying . . . . (or asking)
--------
Those are my thoughts and opinions on your questions, but I'm not some kind of political guru or genius, I'm just a regular guy who watches the news and reads a lot in his free time. Hope they help.

shrimper, how much money do you make? If you make less than $250,000 a year, your taxes are lower. No arguement...no "But Fox News says this..." It's a simple fact. Taxes are lower now for people making under a quarter million a year than they were under Bush. But...choose to close your eyes and paint Obama as overtaxing you. While it has no basis in fact, it seems to make you feel better.

Good one, TT. I’m reminded of the mouths we used to hear from –actually it was for quite a few years – at gatherings where mouths tend to gather, and they would complain about how much their school taxes had grown, and about how “those damn teachers” were getting paid way too much, and of how they only work for ten months, and of how “they get all of the holidays off.” Some of those same mouths would even make really snobbish remarks about degrees in education and the caliber of the graduates going into teaching. All of this was fact from the mouths until one of their own kids was trying to land a teaching job; or one of their own was actually teaching and then it was “you wouldn’t believe the class she has,” or “that kid works on school all evening;” or "my son has this principal who is such an SOB that.." Or the best reversal: “you couldn’t get me to be a teacher these days; I wouldn’t last a…” Mouths: I guess they’re still best for eating.

- Why is it that Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax votes for a majority of Dems at the local, state and federal levels? And pass most, if not all, Bond issues which increases local debt?
- Why is it that rural voters (land owners) have a strong leaning not to vote for Dems?
- Why is it that 'first time unemployment' filing numbers are around one-half million every month, and the real number of those unemployed keeps rising (although the official Government numbers don't want to show that)?
- Why are busy voters subjected to very short TV and Radio ads that are slanted attacts, lies and mostly crap? And we need to make good voting decisions?
- Why is Bush blamed for spending when the Dems took control of the House and Senate after the 2006 elections, and Congress controls spending?
Just saying . . . . (or asking)

Good one, TT. I’m reminded of the mouths we used to hear from –actually it was for quite a few years – at gatherings where mouths tend to gather, and they would complain about how much their school taxes had grown, and about how “those damn teachers” were getting paid way too much, and of how they only work for ten months, and of how “they get all of the holidays off.” Some of those same mouths would even make really snobbish remarks about degrees in education and the caliber of the graduates going into teaching. All of this was fact from the mouths until one of their own kids was trying to land a teaching job; or one of their own was actually teaching and then it was “you wouldn’t believe the class she has,” or “that kid works on school all evening;” or "my son has this principal who is such an SOB that.." Or the best of the reversals: “you couldn’t get me to be a teacher these days; I wouldn’t last a…” Mouths, TT: I guess they’re still best for eating.

Obama cut taxes; 5 straight quarters of economic growth; voters don't know it. As the nation goes to the polls, most voters are ignorant of the basic facts of the issues they say are motivating them. Why did last week's Bloomberg poll get such little coverage? The mainstream media would be admitting they are incompetent, irrelevant or both.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-29/poll-shows-americans-don-t-know-economy-expanded-with-tax-cuts.html

The largest factor in the looming crisis is not health care costs but, rather, the debt being piled up by the federal government, with the help of the Federal Reserve.
Unfortunately, as a certain southern politician once put it, "There's not a dime's worth of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats."
Big Government has teamed up with Big Business to screw the middle class.

It's not a matter of 'to tax or not to tax' because this society has become reliant on tax dollars. The problem lies WHERE and HOW these tax dollars are being spent. Too much 'wasting' of tax dollars has become the norm and is not a good thing.

I'm just going to point out that about a quarter of these replies thus far appear to be "against" the premise they interpret TT's to have put forth in this cartoon and sketch, yet they contain no thought or actual content, just name-calling and accusations of "Marxism."

Tim:
The names are in the following box instead of the same box as the posts. sooo! You have to think outside the box. If there is anything I should pick up on; please post the information. It is Good of you to offer your help for this worthwhile project. I have done studies and written Books on social organization. I went to China through People to People. I presented one of my Books called Earthland: the Real and Ideal at ten universities in China. I was travelling with a group of philosophy professors.
Dave

From a Midwest Seniors point of view. Just wait until all those high taxes are eliminated.....along with the things those taxes pay for. I say lets do away with all taxes and go back to the days when we all had to pitch in to get things done. Like giving one day a month to work on the roads near your home, maybe we should use horses and scrapers too, as we won't have funds for gasoline for those big machines. And kids could go to a one-room schoolhouse near home and we could board the teachers. And we could dose our illnesses with herbs we grow. Etc., etc. And listen to the screams of all those who lose what think they deserve. Taxes help us all and as patriotic Americans we should be glad we live here and pay them. Take that!

Since you have this thing for the wealthy,Tom...cartoonists should work for the state for nothing. You'd get free Sharpies. And the government would give you one of those hats free that looks like a pawn shop sign.

Tom Toles, avatar of reasoned discussion and tolerance of viewpoints different from his own. Take that, you Tea Partiers and right-wing-nuts. Tom the Terrific, legend in his own mind, has struck again.

Wow jornolibist your memory is failing you since Pres. Obama got into office taxes have gone down and so has the lost of jobs but don't let facts get in the way of your decision making at the polls. Regardless if we have health care reform or not costs will continue to rise but at what pace? The bottom line is as long as we have for-profit health care insurance the CEO's will want more and more profits for their and their stockholders' pockets and you would be a fool to think otherwise, just check out their profits now and they still want more and use the excuse that the new laws are the reason. I'm sorry I would rather pay a bit higher cost so that every American is covered but I'm sure I will be called a name or two for that opinion but somehow I think God would be on my side on this one!

"I wish to avenge myself against the One who rules above". Karl Marx
Posted by: billybeer6

Karl Marx was a bitter old man who wanted to improve people's lives. Unfortunately, His ideas were used to enslave millions of people in a cruel dictatorship.
Hitler was also a bitter younger man who wanted to exalt his people. Instead, he became a dictator who caused a world war that cost millions of lives including his own.
Again we are in a war of ideas that can cause great death and destruction or a better world for everyone. Will we overcome our divisiveness, be civil, work together and make civilization what it should be?
The "One who rules above" awaits our choice.
Will we self-destruct and create hell on earth or become the people that God intended us to be?

"I didn't used to weigh THIS MUCH, and gravity is just pulling me down on the scale with too much force! And I'M MAD AS HELL ABOUT IT! Sincerely!"

Maybe laying off of doughnuts, Burger King and Hamburger Helper would help those T-Party folks stay svelte. Staying away from the empty calories of PBR and Milwaukee's Best, would also help. Less mass to get attracted in the gravitational field, but then that is too logical for those fright-wingers. It Obama's fault for keeping those items too cheap.

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